9/4: Interview- Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills & Nash

by Ed Masley - Aug. 30, 2012 11:19 AMThe Republic | azcentral.com

It's been 41 years since Crosby, Stills & Nash released their first live album, "4 Way Street," recorded with occasional fourth member Neil Young. And by that point, there was no mistaking which side of the fence these guys were on, with Young taking aim at the National Guardsmen who killed four student activists at Kent State University in 1970 on "Ohio" and Graham Nash weighing in on the trial of the anti-war activists known as the Chicago 7 on "Chicago."

We caught up with Nash to talk about "CSN 2012,"a new live album. It features his latest political broadside, "Almost Gone," a song inspired by the pretrial treatment of Bradley Manning, a U.S. soldier arrested on suspicion of having given classified materials to WikiLeaks.

He also spoke about how Young and Stephen Stills were supposed to be out on a Buffalo Springfield reunion tour this year, but after Young decided not to do it, that freed Stills to hit the road with Nash and David Crosby.

Question: "CSN 2012" sounds great. How has the tour been going since the taping of that show in April?

Answer: We've figured out a way to tour where we don't kill each other, you know? And that's basically two shows on and then a day off. We do that for five weeks. Then, a 10-day break. And then, we go out for another five weeks, two shows on and one day off. That formula seems to work. And it's been an incredible tour so far. The asses in seats and the merchandising sales have been through the roof. But more importantly, the music has been fabulous. Stephen's playing his ass off. David's healthy. The band is fabulous. It actually couldn't be much better.

Q: What inspired you to do another live release at this point?

A: A couple of things. We realize, of course, that we're getting old, and you begin to wonder "How long can this go on?" Put that together with a sound check, how good we were sounding and how much we actually did like each other. Regardless of 40 years of madness and insanity with this band, we still like each other.

Q: You said you don't want to kill each other with the way you're touring now. When was the last time you wanted to kill each other?

A: Oh, the day before yesterday? (Laughs). But you know, the stuff that used to piss you off, little silly things like key changes and stuff like that where we wouldn't talk to each other for months, that's over with.

Q: You weren't supposed to tour this year as CSN.

A: How did we come to tour? When Buffalo Springfield did those seven dates last year, they were rather successful, and Neil said to Stephen, "Hey, let's go out next year on a Springfield tour." So everybody canceled everything for this imaginary tour. And then, Neil, in his wisdom, for whatever reason, canceled. So when David and I heard that, we went to Stephen's house and said, "We're canceling our Crosby-Nash gigs and we're going out as CSN. Just bring your organ player, join our band and let's rock." And he went for it.

Q: What impact has the falling through of the Buffalo Springfield tour had on CSN's relationship with Y?

A: It's always difficult. We've almost always felt like a redheaded stepchild with Neil. But our relationship is fine. It's just that we have to be very careful, because you never know with Neil. We could set up a whole CSNY tour and employ 80 people and get 40 buses and trucks, and have him cancel. So it's a very shaky situation. (Laughs). Shakey. That's funny because that's his nickname.

But needless to say, making music with Neil is a special thing, and we will do it because we're music junkies. Regardless of how he's treated us or how we've treated him, we still love to make music with the guy because it's something special.

Q: Do you see another CSN&Y tour in your future?

A: I'm not holding my breath, and I'm not sitting by the phone, but if it rings and it's Neil, we're there. It's that simple. And unfortunately, it's that one-sided. We'll do it, because the music is fantastic. We know that with Neil we could make incredible music that nobody else in the world can make. And, of course, financially, it's ridiculous.

Q: This is an election year, of course. And Crosby, Stills & Nash have obviously never shied away from weighing in on the important issues of the day. Do you foresee much weighing in on stage?

A: I will do everything I can to get Obama elected. I don't agree with everything he's done. I don't agree with his stance on national security. This call we're talking on right now is being recorded. That's not right. The corporate control of this country is insane. And everyone just goes along because they're too busy trying to figure out the size of Kim Kardashian's ass or who the next American Idol is going to be. It's bread and circuses. Keep them all occupied, give them some McDonald's and a Coca-Cola and f--k 'em.

That's what's going on in this world. And the sooner people realize that, the better. People say "What is it going to take until people agree that there really is global warming?" And my answer usually is "Probably a million deaths. Florida under water. Manhattan under water. Bangladesh under water."

Q: What do you think of the attitude that musicians should play music and keep their thoughts on social issues to themselves?

A: I don't agree, and I've never agreed. I'm a human being. I'm a husband. I'm a father. I'm a friend. These things affect me, and I have to say something. I'm privileged and honored to live in a country of which I've been a citizen for 30-odd years where we get to speak our minds.

I mean, look at what happened to Pussy Riot. Are you kidding me? They sing a song against Putin in church and get two years in jail? What the (expletive) would they have done with me, David, Stephen and Neil?

Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Twitter.com/EdMasley